Wire basket.



R. P. RODGERS.

WIRE BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1909.

Patented Sept. 3,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. P. RODGERS.

WIRE BgSKET. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1909.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RICHARD PINKNEY RODGERS, OF SPABTANFUBG, SOUTH CAROLINA.

WIRE BASKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application filed November 24, 1909. Serial No. 529,831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD P. Become, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spartanburg, in the county of Spartanburg and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Wire Basket, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire baskets.

The object of the present invention isto improve the construction of wire baskets, and to increase their strength and durability and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive basket, adapted to be easily constructed, and capable of being advantageously employed for handling cotton and other produce and various kinds of merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire basket of this character, designed to be constructed in various sizes from hand baskets to hamper baskets, and adapted to present both smooth interior and exterior surfaces, and capable of being readily emptied.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it bein understood that various changes in the orm, proportion, size and minor details of construction, with in the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire basket of the hamper type, constructed in accordance with this invention, the woven wire lining being omitted to illustrate the wire frame of the basket more clearly. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the wire basket. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the same. Fi 4 is a vertical sectional view of the has et. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a hand basket, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the linin being omitted. Fig. 7 is a detail horizonta sectional view of a portion of a basket provided with a filler of wooden splits or splints woven in the wire frame or body.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. r

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a wire basket 1 of the hamper type is illustrated, but the basket maybe made in various sizes and shapes to adapt it for handling and ship ping various kinds of produce, merchandise and the like. The basket 1, which is cylindrical, is provided with a stout cylindrical supporting and bracing frame, constructed of galvanized wire in order to be rust proof and composed of vertical wires 2 and horizontal connecting wires 3, which are in the form of rings and which are secured to the vertical wires at the oints of crossing by electric welding, sold rin or any other suitable means. A pair 0 vertical wires 2 is preferably arranged at the terminals 4 of the horizontal connecting wires, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the terminals 4 are partially twisted around the adjacent upright wires, and are electrically welded or otherwise secured to the said wires 2. The upper and lower terminals 5 and 6 of the upright wiresare looped around the top and bottom horizontal connecting wires, and are welded or otherwise secured to the same. In order to form the sides of the receptacle and render the latter as tight as desired, the circular frame or body is provided with a filler 7 which, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, may consist of a lining of woven galvanized wire in order to be rust proof, and the mesh of the woven Wire may be as fine as desired. Also the basket may be lined with canvas or other fabric to form a perfectly tight receptacle, or a filler of wooden splits or splints may be employed as hereinafter described. The basket is provided at the top with inner and outer hoops 8 and 9, which may be constructed of either wood or galvanized metal, and the upper edge or portion of the lining is arranged between the wire frame and the inner hoop. The uprightwires extend between the inner and outer hoops and project above the upper edges of the same, and the top horizontal connecting wire is located above the hoe 3s. The hoops are connected at intervals )y nails 10, or other suitable fastening devices,

and are bound together by a wire 11, which is wrapped spirally around the inner and outer hoops and the top horizontal connecting wire, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The spirally arranged binding wire 11 is passed through the openings of the lining and assists in securing the latter in the number of wires and the length of the place. The lower edge of the lining is arranged between an upwardly extending annular flange IZofa sheet metal bottom .13, constructed of galvanized metal in order to be rust )roof, and adapted to enable the basket to e utilized for handling small grain, seed and the like. Y The upwardly eX= tending marginal flange also assists in forming a tight receptacle at the lower edges of the sides or walls of the basket. The sheet metal bottom is, supported by crossed horizontal bars or braces 14, co

structed of strap iron, or other suitable Ina-- terial and having terminalportions 15 6X--.

tended upward at the sides of the basket and bent downward to form eyes or loops 16, which receive the adja nt horizontal oo'nnectin' wires, whereby the braces are securely astened to the body or frame of the basket and form a firm and secure sup port for the bottom. m'place by wire tics 17, consisting of short pieces of wire extending through the bottom at opposite sides of the supporting bars or braces 14; and passing around the latter, but any other suitable fastening means may be employed. The lining 7 is cut awayat opposite sides of the has zet adjacent to the rim to provide openings 18, adapted to permit the rim to be grasped in handling, the basket, and thereby provide hand holes. Any other form of handle, however, may be cm )loycd if desired.

11 Figs. '5 and 6 of the drawin s, the bas hot 19 is in the form of a hand basket, and is equipped with a handle 20 to enable it to be readily carried on the arm or otherwise handled. The basket 1.) is provided with a supporting frame or body 21, constructed similar to those heretofore described and composed of upright and horizontal Wires,

upright wires being less than the correspending wires of the frame or body of the basket 1.

crossed supporting bars or braces 25, which have their terminals 20 looped aronud th'e other, the side portions 27 being extended downward between the inner and outer hoops 28 and 29 and having their terminals 30 looped around one of the horizontal con necting wires. This firmly attaches the handle to the body of the basket. When the handle is constructed of galvanized it IS.

vertical wires or The bottom is secured The bottom'22 is equipped with a flange 23. and is secured by wire ties 24 to sheet metal, as illustrat d in Fig'fl. 5 and 6, referably stiffened by bondin the side e ges 31. back upon themselves manner shown. p

A filler consistin of wooden splits orsplints 32 may be employed, as illustrated. in Fig. (of the drawings. The splits or splints 82 are woven horizontally through rods 83, connected by horizontal wires 84 similar to the vertical wires '2 heretofore described.

Havin thus fully described In invention, what I 0 mm as new-and desire o secure by Letters Patent, is:

RA basket of the class described c m= posed of a series of spaced vertical wires, and a series olfspaced horizontal wires located at the top and bottom of the vertical the prising, incombinati n, a wire'frame comwires and intermediate thereof, the wiresoined together at their intersect-ion to form a rigid structure, hoops arranged internally and externally of the frame at the upper margin thereof immediately beneath the uppermost horizontal wire, a binding wire wrapped spirally around. and connecting the two hoops to the. up or horizontal wire of the frame, abott m isposcd within the lower margin of the frame, and straps underlying' the bottom with their termini engaging a horizontal W'.e in the lower part of the frame. a

2. A, basket of the class described com prising, in combination, a wire frame composed ofa series of spaced vertical wires,

and a series of spa ed horizontal wires located at the top and bottom of the vertical wires and intermediate thereof, the wires joined togethcrat their intersection to form a rigid structure, hoops arranged internally and externally of the frame at the upper margin thereof immediately beneath the uppermost horizontal wire, a binding Wire wrapped spirally around and connecting the two hoops to the up or horizontal'wire of the frame, a bottom isposed within the lower margin of the frame and straps underlying the bottom with their termini engaging a horizontal wire in the lower art of the frame, and an upstanding handle raving its terminal portions extending downwardly between the hoops into engage ment with a horizontal wire on opposite sides of the frame.

In tostimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiix ed my signa= ture inthe presence of two witnesses.

RIOHARD rlaxrrnao'acaas.

Witnesses:

SAM J. NIOHOLLB,

I. S. Jones. 

